Return of Title IV Funds

Students receiving financial aid have the responsibility to follow the college's withdrawal procedures as outlined on College of the Siskiyou's web page, www.siskiyous.edu/admissions/adddrop.htm. The Higher Education Act requires the college to calculate a Return of Title IV funds on all federal financial aid students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60% attendance point in the semester. Official withdrawal occurs when a student completely withdraws from all classes. Unofficial withdrawal occurs when a student simply stops attending all classes, but fails to officially withdraw (F grade). Both types of withdrawal are subject to repayment.

A calculation is used to determine the percentage of the semester the student attended based on the withdrawal date/last date of attendance. The percentage of the semester the student attended is calculated as follows:

Number of days in attendance

Number of days in semester

The number of days counted includes all calendar days in the semester including weekends and holidays, but excludes college breaks of five or more days. The percentage of the semester the student attended is used to calculate the amount of the student's earned versus unearned federal aid funds. The unearned portion of federal aid funds received must be returned to the appropriate aid program in accordance with the order of return as mandated by law. The order of return is

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan

Federal Subsidized Stafford Student Loan

Federal PLUS Loan

Federal Pell Grant

Federal SEOG Grant

The Financial Aid Office must calculate and return your unearned percentage of financial aid within 45 days of the student's withdrawal. The student will be sent a letter detailing what was returned, and what, if any, balance is owed to COS, and the options are for repaying the funds owed.

The college is responsible for its return of funds first, followed by the student's return of funds. College of the Siskiyous exercises its option to collect from the student any funds the college is obligated to return, and funds required for College of the Siskiyous to return will become a debt on the student's account which the student will be responsible for paying. This charge is not reported to the Department of Education and simply remains as a debt on the student's account with College of the Siskiyous.

Students who stop attending College of the Siskiyous may not receive further financial aid disbursements, may lose some or all of the aid that has already been disbursed to their account, may be responsible for repayment of unpaid charges, and may be considered in overpayment status with USDOE. Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing from the college will be subject to a Return of Title IV Funds calculation at the end of the semester, based on their last date of attendance determined by the Financial Aid Office.

Students who fail ALL courses attempted will also be subject to repayment provisions. We will assume that a student who fails all classes only attended 50% of the semester. A calculation for repayment will be made based upon that assumption. If such a student was actually in attendance past the 50% point of the semester, the course instructor must submit written verification to the Financial Aid Office within 45 days of the student's repayment notification or the end of the semester.

Owing this debt to the College will block/prevent you from enrolling/registering in future terms, accessing transcripts and grades.